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Each team, led by a sergeant, was told today’s operation was the result of a six month probe into a gang suspected of running a major cannabis cultivation and distribution network.

Said to have its roots in Kirkby and Fazakerley, the alleged gang members are believed to have links to north Wales, Cheshire and Staffordshire.

Police entering an address in Fazakerley during early morning raids on cannabis Farm

Determined to stay under the police radar, suspected members are thought to have driven to north Wales just to hold 20 minute business meetings.

One of the 13 police search teams raided a home on Formosa Way, directly opposite Fazakerley Primary School.

The targeted property, which had a disabled parking space outside and a safety rail next to the front door, was searched by officers who uncovered a cannabis farm.

Parents taking their children to school this morning were greeted by the sight of police vehicles and officers examining the property.

The investigation, named Operation Speith, was led by the North West’s regional organised crime fighting unit TITAN.

Fazakerley early morning raids on cannabis Farm

Simultaneous raids took place at five other addresses in Staffordshire, Wales and Cheshire.

Suspects were arrested in Fazakerley, Kirkby, Walton, Widnes , Staffordshire and Penegoes - a village near Machynlleth in Wales. They have been taken to police stations where they will be questioned by detectives.

Operation Speith is set to take advantage of new Proceeds of Crime legislation meaning that assets - from vehicles to TVs - could be seized on the spot by officers if suspected to have been funded by ill-gotten gains.

Those valuables will then be auctioned off and the money pumped back into the court cases surrounding any suspects who end being charged.

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Detective Superintendent Sally Johnson, Head of Operations at Titan, said: “Today’s action follows an extensive investigation across the region and we will now be looking to put those arrested today through the courts.

“I would like to reassure those communities in which we have taken action this morning that we are committed to reducing the impact of organised crime across the North West and will act on all information given.

“Criminal groups involved in the cultivation of cannabis are often involved in other serious organised crime which brings significant harm to those communities.

“Groups will often rent residential and industrial properties in the heart of our communities, and the growing of cannabis bring huge risk to neighbouring properties and businesses.

“Each seizure represents money being taken from the pockets of criminals and we encourage members of the communities to report any concerns to police.”

Anyone with any information can call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.